Thailand’s Newest Luxury Export with Asia Plantation Capital

SINGAPORE, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Thailand’s incredible, rural agricultural economies — having been famed the world over for producing a myriad of crops, from rice to the mystical agarwood tree — have now taken on a new direction with the help of Asia Plantation Capital. The agarwood industry has been operating in Thailand for centuries, supplying oudh oils and wood chips to international buyers from China and The Middle East — although, in reality, its market share (compared to other Asian neighbours) has been considered quite small, with Malaysia alone having been acknowledged by CITES as providing 50% of the world’s agarwood demand.

That is all changing: Asia Plantation Capital has successfully established over 3,000 rai of new agarwood plantations in Thailand. These plantations benefit from the Company’s advanced technologies and, more importantly, from the back-end investment it has made in factories and in the processing of the raw timber into high-value end products; these are linked to its global office and distribution network, in all key markets, direct to consumers and wholesalers from London, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Dubai. The company is now transforming the face of the agarwood industry across Asia – sustainably harvesting trees and replanting at least 2 trees for each one felled, with production increasing, year on year.

Recently, Oudh (or agarwood oils) — from the Company’s plantations — was the star of the recent World Perfumery Congress in Deauville, France. This oudh is regarded as the first, plantation-produced oil to offer consistent quality across a wide range of key elements within its oils — of paramount importance for its use in the global fragrance industry. This success is possible only with the massive (and continued) investment in the research work and with on-going research and development by the company’s Scientific Advisory Board — which includes some of Asia’s leading academics from within the agarwood industry — including Thailand’s own Professor Pakamas, from the Prince of Songkla University. Barry Rawlinson, CEO of Asia Plantation Capital, says: "One of the main barriers to oudh oils from nature being useable in international fragrances and cosmetics is being able to offer a consistent quality of oil. At the end of the day, when you are dealing with Mother Nature, this is not always easy; oils produced by local distilleries vary greatly, from day to day, due to the methods used and the standards employed. Over the last few years, working with our Scientific Advisory Board in Thailand, Malaysia and China (as well as with expert consultancy groups in Switzerland and the Middle East) we have been able to identify the key processes which enable us to deliver a high quality and consistent standard of finished oil to the industry; bear in mind, any changes in the quality of the oil going into a fine fragrance can cause huge variations in the finished product — from only a minute difference in the oil component. As a result of this work, we have produced oils that are now certified by IFRA (International Fragrance Association). As far as we know, these are the only oils produced in Thailand to have achieved this standard; they come with full MSDS analyses and CITES certification on each production batch and have EU product approval. This clear, leading-edge breakthrough is one which we now want to share with other rural growers and distilleries, in order that Thailand can become a world leader — alongside Malaysia and other Asian countries — as a high-quality producer of consistent oudh oils, wood chips and incense."

As further proof of the consistency and the quality of Asia Plantation Capital’s oils, a fine fragrance – produced using oudh oils from the Company’s own plantations and distillery — was recently shortlisted in the world’s top 10 new fragrances by "The International Art and Olfactory Awards", in Los Angeles. The fragrance was produced by the Company’s partner — luxury fragrance brand, "Fragrance Du Bois" — by 5th generation French perfumer, Francois-Merle-Baudoin. The fragrance is approaching cult status in the Middle East, Europe and Russia, as a combination of pure oudh and rose absolute (the two most expensive essential oils) has been used to create an amazing and powerful accord. This particular scent has helped Fragrance Du Bois become one of the fastest growing, luxury fragrance brands in the world – with its own boutiques (and even its own bespoke perfumery) in the world capital of perfumes — Grasse — on the Cote d’Azur, France. In addition, boutiques are now open in the iconic Fullerton Heritage Hotel, Singapore and in one of Asia’s most luxurious malls – The Starhill Gallery, in Kuala Lumpur. There has also been a refit of its existing Bangkok boutique, in the Intercontinental Plaza, with further openings, in 2014, in the eponymous Dubai Mall. New concessions in Hong Kong, Shanghai and across China and the Middle East are already scheduled for 2015. Throughout the last year, the brand has been featured at The Arab Womens’ Awards, Exsence in Milan, London Bridal Show, Beauty World Middle East, Luxury World Middle East, World Perfumery Congress, Chartwell Luxury, Tatler, Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore, and in Abu Dhabi and in Monaco as the official Amber Lounge Fragrance leading to collaborations with the Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation — which supports the global environment and has a special relationship with Thailand’s own Environmental Foundations. Fragrance Du Bois commissioned a special fragrance creation to support the FPA2 Foundation, in addition to numerous celebrity and bespoke fragrance creations — including David Haye, the Former World Heavyweight and Cruiserweight World boxing champion: the one thing they all have in common is using pure oudh oil, produced in Thailand — by Asia Plantation Capital.

All this has helped Asia Plantation Capital become the preferred supplier of natural oudh to numerous perfumers and international companies, in addition to leading Gulf families and institutions — helping them enjoy the ultimate oils which are pure oudh, pure luxury — produced in Thailand.

As a result of Asia Plantation Capital’s success in developing and promoting the agarwood industry in Thailand, its CEO — Barry Rawlinson — was proud to present a special fragrance, created with 100% pure, Thailand produced oudh, from its plantations, to the Chairman of the Board of Post Publishing Plc, Mom Rajawongse Pridiyathorn Devakula, at the recent Bangkok Investment Expo 2014 (held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre) in Bangkok.

Asia Plantation Capital is an owner and operator of a diverse range of commercial plantation and farming businesses across the Asia-Pacific region, and globally, part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group of associated companies. Their focus is on multicultural and diverse plantation projects geared to the domestic and commercial demands of the countries in which they operate. Working closely with and supporting local communities is an underlying core principle of the APC business, providing social and cultural support, as well as investment, to move these communities away from deforestation and illegal logging activities, previously seen as a main source of income in some regions of Asia. Established officially in 2008, although operating privately since 2002, the group now has plantation and agricultural projects on four continents with operational projects at various stages in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Laos, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, The Gambia, North America and Europe.

Promoting the use of certified wood is the best way of preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity and combatting poverty in the tropical rainforest regions. For the yachting sector, which strives for excellence and which is already involved in environmental efforts, this is also a way of ensuring that no wood from illegal logging is used.

Fragrance Du Bois is a niche luxury perfume house working closely with sustainable plantations in Asia, bringing exciting new 100% organic Oud oil based fragrances to exclusive markets worldwide. Sustainably sourcing the finest raw materials across the globe, working with French perfumers to create a full range of products, and also providing bespoke fragrance services, Fragrance Du Bois is personal luxury with a conscience. With exclusive fragrance lounges around the world, in Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, Fragrance Du Bois creates only the finest experience in bespoke perfumery.

Fragrance Du Bois is known as Parfums Du Bois in France and in non-French speaking markets, as Fragrance Du Bois.

The World Perfumery Congress (WPC) is a global biennial fragrance industry forum featuring a mix of educational and networking formats that provide the latest insights for suppliers, manufacturers and consumer product marketers, while also connecting buyers and sellers.